Happy I read the backstory because listening to these tapes (both of them) you can HEAR there MUST be some kind of backstory because the Dead seem like they don't give a shit. Lots and lots of mistakes, Jerry of all people. (he also plays some great shit, obviously, but lots of "clams"). Mickey, maybe happy to be back on Long Island, is in good form....maybe too good, I feel like he overplays on the first show. However the drums in "The Other One" are fantastic. "Smokestack Lightning" is also good.

The Dead seem a little bored with their rep also around this time, and try out different songs (Dark Hollow electrically) and try bringing back old ones (Viola Lee Blues, which has a real "couldn't give a fuck" vibe to it until it veers off into "Cumberland Blues", the song they'd rather be playing. They do "the Other One" with a nice long Drums....then a couple of songs later they're playing "Good Lovin'" with an EVEN LONGER Drums (that's not as nice!). Most of "Good Lovin'" IS the drums!

I mean, when Pigpen suddenly gets THREE songs in a row (Big Boss Man, Hard To Handle and Good Lovin')....and one of them is a repeat from the afternoon show (Hard To Handle)....you know something's up! (incidentally the first show's "Hard To Handle" seems to these ears as the "better" version).

Jerry talked about getting his playing down to where you can hear his "mood".....if I'm reading his mood right on this one, it's "I don't give a fuck".

Now the CROWD seems to be having a ball! Which is what Deadheads do! Just because the tape isn't Harpur College doesn't mean the crowd didn't enjoy themselves! Hell, that's the story of many a Dead show, right?

dude, i was there (not as early as you, but beginning early '80's), and that fact adds nothing to my so-called "expertise" of a particular show, tape, soundboard, etc. Dismissing the opinion of those who "weren't there, man" is childish and absurd.

For the naysayers whose only experience here are the tapes. Fwiw, the folks at the board knew wtf they were doing. If it were a volume issue, just like the week before with the Allman Bros (see, I was there and know), it was hardly an all night theme of the bands being pissed off. After all, the Dead were there in 67 & 68 (before my time) as well as the Allmans playing there 5x over two years. Now, back to the show. It was a fucking lysergic weekend with thousands of heads descending upon campus (from sister schools in Albany, Buffalo, as well as other schools in the NE Boston, New Haven etc). And lest I forget, the shit head townies from nearby Three Villages, etc. What a fucking weekend. And as I said, you had to be there. Half of you fuckers weren't even protoplasm in your old mans' balls when this went down. Fucking townies broke into the Deads' hotel room and ripped of all of their $$$, but that didn't deter them from giving us a weekend (4 shows to remember). I worked three of the shows (security) and had 3rd row seats, right in front of Garcias' pedal steel (Riders set), Micky was fucking scary, in his wool black hat against that black curtain backdrop. Pig in a gold lame' turban, Bobby's a fucking 18 yo. kid forChristsake. Till the Morning Comes, UJB, Stephen, the last fucking Viola Lee. Just keep hatin on the Dead, and wax about how great Dead & Coi is all about vis a vis Country Dead circa 1970. Sure, it isn't Harpur, it isn't the FE 2/13 or 9/19, but it happened and it was fucking good. This is for you Fancy Nancy, wherever you may be.

When I listen to this show I consistently skip over or don't even notice a few songs like Till the Morning Comes, Me and My Uncle, Uncle Johns, but a few bright spots catch my attention and I'll play them again (and again): Hard to Handle ( nice groove from 2:50 to 8:15), Dire Wolf, Viola Lee.

These Stonybrook tapes have been around almost since they happened. Any experienced listener to 1970 GD knows these are disappointments. They were plagued by technical problems and the band seemed aggravated. Lackluster sums it up. Were these of genuine greatness, the consensus would have developed long ago.
One thing Jerry mentioned in interviews was that consistency was woefully lacking in the early years. This is an example of not performing anywhere near potential.

Like Arck says, if your opinion is not the same as mine then you really have no business stating it. I dont like this show, so if you do there is something wrong with your musical tastes. Im Arck and what I say goes

...is either joking or doesn't know what they're talking about. Sure, you're free to have an opinion but 5 stars???? Unbelievable. You need to get out more. This show is at best average and at worst dull and dreary. 1970 has some of the finest moments the band ever had but for me, this show is right down in the bottom half of the shows of the year. Nothing is especially terrible but when you compare this with the Fillmore East shows just over a month earlier or the Capitol Theater shows a week later you can see how uninteresting this. It's totally unremarkable. The Viola Lee> Cumberland> Uncle John promises a lot but is a let down.

Please - give ratings that actually reflect the quality of the show in the context of other shows from the same time period.

lackluster r u people crazy or u still dropping acid great show here

This show is a lot of fun, considering it was the early show and thereforse essentially a "warm up" for the evening gig. Nothing for the ages here, but overall it's solid, with decent sound and a couple of interesting entrees in the set list: one of only a few attempts at "Til the Morning comes" and the last ever "Viola Lee Blues". Although not a classic, I find myself reaching for this one occasionally when I want a taste of 1970 but don't have time to listen to a full-length show.

THANK~YOU, FOR ALL INVOLVED IN UPLOADING THESE
LEGENDARY SHOWS. THEY ARE NOT "LACKLUSTER" BY ANY MEANS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD MAKE ANYBODY SAY THIS, I GUESS THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO THOSE HISSY OLD GRATEFUL DEAD TAPES FOR 20 YEARS.
DARK HOLLOW, BROKEDOWN PALACE,
VIOLA LEE BLUES ----> CUMBERLAND BLUES:
I GUESS YOUR NOT HAPPY W/ THE SONG SELECTION EITHER ???????
THANK'S AGAIN GUY'S
L.S. ~ PHILA

Not a hot 70 show....

I have to assume the previous reviewer only listened to the first track. "Till The Morning Comes" was only played five times despite appearing on American Beauty. For some reason the band never got into this song...which is a shame, I think its a really good one! But in this case it's very weak, lots of off key chords and such. "Lackluster". BUT the REST of the show is absolutely smokin'. Download it!

bout' as lack luster as it gets. Sound quality is the only thing gettin a star here.

I lived 2 miles from Stony Brook University and graduated HS in '69. Tom R., a good friend in my time at Adelphi U, said I HAD to get into the Dead. We ended up seeing them every time they came to the NY area until I moved to Oregon in Jan of '71.
The halloween show at Stony Brook was great because not only did they play really well, but all my HS and college friends were there, it was a wonderful atmosphere and it was my birthday.

I haven't heard this show for years. It was one of the first tapes I was given. I wore it out from listening to it so much. I love this set. The Viola Lee>Cumberland is on fire. I'm falling out of my chair listening to it right now. The boys just smoke. Worth it just for that jam. Great Uncle John's as well.

good sound, great show. unique flavor

Friggin' AWESOME show for tight little tunes

This is the early show with the last Viola Lee Blues (retired)

As you can see the setlist shown is the LATE show. But is incorrect because this IS the early show.